Apparatus for making ice.



E. T. WILLIAMS. APPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE.

APvPIICATION FILED IAN. 22, I9I4.

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Patented Apr. 1, ISIS.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

3 11 vanto@ E. T. WILUAMS.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE.

APPLICATION msn 1AN.22.1914.

vmmd Apr, 4,1916l 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

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FJWRE 'l'. WILLXAMS, OF BROOKLYN, YGRK.

.arras/arms rca manine Ion.

specification of `Letters Patent. Pggigutg. Apri gtk g.

Application 'ed January 22, 1914. 'Seria1No.r813,719.

To all iolwm it may concern Be it known that l.. EDWARD T. WILLIAMS 7 a citizen of the United States of America, and a. resident of Ereoklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New IYork, have invented certain 'new and useful `Improvements in Apparatus for Making lee, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus .for making ice and to a method of ice `makmg and may be regarded in somey aspects asA being an improvement on the apparatus of prior patents of mine and more particularly of Patents Nos. 1,1?51298 and 1,051,299, patented January 21," 1913. Asin thev apparatus of the. patents,"1 employv a shallow water tank on the top of which molds are located, these molds being in communication through holes in their bottoms with the Water in the tank, and' I employ meansk forl freezing and thawing the Water in' the molds. lVhile some features of my' invention are I, applicable to jacketed molds, I have effected l apparent fromthe following description Iof,

a cheaperand more practicable construction by locating the molds in a brine tank placed above the Water tank, the bottom of this brine tank being constituted bythe support for the molds and the brine being vcirculated in the spaces betweeny the molds. I so oon-` struct the molds and the Water` tank as to provide an air space between the top of. the Water tank and the level ofthe Water in said tank, the air trapped therein serving as a most effective insulating means to prevent freezing o f the water in the depending shellsof the molds and in the tank itself. vThis space I also utilize in harvesting. It is simplest to make this space7 common to all the molds but obviously the space may be 'subdivided to any desired extentpor the molds themselvesmight' be provided With indi-' vidualair spaces below .their bottoms. In addition to employing agitating airas here-v tofore, I provide an auxiliary'agitator which I have illustrated as areciprocating pump, the purpose of which will be more clearly i a the method. v

In practising my inventionyl confine Waters` andV freeze it from a plurality of points. until the ice masses thus formed almost'ineet, and A`"then,institute the stepofcausing the Water `#to surgein alternate directions through the spacegor spaces between said masses, and

masses may form as la Vcontinuous Wallor coating-as Where the freezing is from they sides of a mold-or vthey .may be entirely "separate until the freezing operation is almost complete, Where the points froinwhich .the freezing takes place are separated. it is'to be understood that this method is also ,applicable Where a block of ice is formed from opposite` plates, or Where internal freezing'zones are employed in a mold. 1tv

is noted that 'there may be several holes through the bottom of a given mold with an air supply toeach. 'l bring about this surging action by puttinginto operation at the time indicated the auxiliaryagit'ator above? referred to. From the beginning of the freezing operationvuntil it is almost comn pleted Ivcustomarily agitate theA Water in the molds by means other :than the agitator, and preferably, asheretofore, by introducing air under pressure aty their bottoms. then stop the preliminary agitation and start the auX- iliary agitator thus causing the Water to 'surge as above explained. `The air supply 1s cut oif and the auxiliary agitator started shortly before the completion of. the cake.

This insures better ice since Where the airisl `'left on until the ice masses are frozen together the"-water below the point at which they freezeA together' willV allv be displaced with the air thus leaving a void in the cake. Or, inthe event of it being frozen at the bot tom/tirsft, the` Water would form opaque ice containing impurities which could not es' cape a'lhe use of "the auxiliary agitator adds littleto the cost, since in view of the fact that'the vcakes are nearly finished when it is brought into use, it needs but a slight displacement and is operated only for a short time. lNhile the speed of the auxiliary agitator may be varied Within' reasonable limits to suit conditions anappropria'tespeed for the agitator would be about Q0 R. l?. M.

`The above discussion of the apparatus and method of using it are designed togive a generalview of the nature'iof my'invention rather than 'to detail allitsnovelfeatnres; reference should accordingly be'had to the claims appendedy bereite-Which more' fullyV set forththe invention 'and deiineits scopeA loo 1ra r,

Referring. to the "drawingszFigurelf is4` i a. vertical section of theapparatus; Fig. 2 is Q f,

a pla-n view'of a group of the molds; lie. '3 is ,a horizontal sectiony on theflinefS-S, Fig.

k55 .continue this action While the freezing'pr62\1, looking in the direction 4of the arrows,

-\vl @red5until:l the .cake isv complete. TheseA and Eig. is an enlarged iacompletervievt showing in vertical section details of mold` construction, etc.

I have omitted that is common in the art and seems to require no illustration, the means for cooling "and heating the brine [expedients in the art'and requiring no illus- `of course employ any triatlon. Although in the specification and claims I use the terms brine and brine tank I do this merely for convenience and may suitable. refrigerant. The water tank is designated` .by the numeral l and occupies the bottom of a casing,-

the upper part of which constitutes the brine tank 2. Above the level of the Water kin the tank 1 is located the support or frame work 3 which may itself be supported in any suitable way as by brackets or anles i riveted tothe casing as indicated at o and to the frame Work as indicated at 6, and also by braces 7 in any suitable numher and arrangement and secured in any suitable way as by brackets or angles and riveting as just described. This frame work is provided with rows of spaced holes 8 and mounted von the frame work adjacent each of these holes is a mold 9, the relative dimensions of the molds and frame work being suoli as to leave spaces between the walls of adjacent molds for refrigerant, the frame work thus constituting not only the support on which the molds rest but also the bottom of the brine tank and part of the top of the water tank. The tanks are` insulated in any suitable manner as by 'in-A sulation A, and an individual insulating cover B is provided for each mold. Spacers C which may beof wood are located between the molds' and between the molds andthe Walls f the irine tank.

The -joints between the molds vand the support 3 must obviously he such as not to permit any brine to pass through into the water tank and no air into the brine tank and while this result will be secured if the joints are carefully made, I prefer 'to provide seals 10 of fluid-proofcompound. A convenient construction and the one illustrated shows the molds made in several pieces and with theirA upright walls in` turned at the bottom to form a horizontal flange 11 to which is secured, preferably by solder' l2, the bottom 13 having a hole or holes 14 each of which is` surrounded by a shell 15 which may be integral with the bottom but as shown is secured thereto by rivets 1G. To make a tight joint IA` prefer to rest. the mold on a from the drawings much the y water therein.

gasket 12'k adjacent the edge of the hole 8; ln theconstruction illustrated, the inturned flange rests on said gasket and bolts 18 having at the under sides-of their heads another gasket 19 are 'passed through the mold bot 'tom 1,3 and the gasket 1T ,and are screwthreaded through the support or frame work 3, these bolts being provided in sutiicient numbers a very tight joint may be secured by screwing them down close.v l't fwill. be noted that the bottoms 13 of the molds `form part of the top of the water tank, of which the support 3 also forms a part in addition to forming the bottoni of the brine. tank.- The pipes'or shells 15 extend below the top ofthe Water tank into thetank and into These pipes or shells with thewalls and top" of the .water tank constitute 'air trapping means and provide an air space beneath the top ofi-.tire water tank and between it and the level atwhiclr the water stands in the said tank.; Such space terms,Y a most effective insulation.v It

may be common to all the molds extending i unbroken beneath the entire top of the water tank, br, as has been suggested above,

it may besub-divided to any desired extent; For instance, the braces 7 might beused for this purpose openings being left them below the level at which it was desired to have the water stand or individual molds might be provided with individual air pockets. This space is traversed by thawing pipes 20 through which warm brine or steam may be circulated the heat being con- Veyed to the mold bottoms byradiation,

or hot air may bei used if'desired. Agitating air pipes 21 are provided for introducing air into` the bottoms of the molds through the open-ended pipes or nozzles 22, the pipes 21 being 'safe-guarded against freezing by their-location in the water tank.

A suitable air cut-"off 23 is provided'- for the air header 34 and also individual cut-otfs25.

The agitator has a base 24, cylinder 25, and related parts, in which are mounted thev plunger 26, cross-head 27 and rod 28 connecting them. The end of the cylinder 25 has a connection 29 with the water tank.

The cross-head is power'drivenrby shaft 30, crank 31 having an adjiistable wrist lpin 32 and pitman 33 connected to the cross head 2T, this arrangement permitting the stroke of the agitator to. be varied. The connection 29 may be provided with suitable insulation.

Another advantage of the air space provided by my construction is that, Where an agitator is employed therewith, thev air in the said spaceprovides a cushion for the 'A surging action caused by the agitator which tends to produce violent action justbcfore and after the ice cakes become frozen solid, such violent action being prevented by the cushioning effect of the an. This would be mimmo l,

t1' ne even ii 4the with'.

l lia-ve of course 'notl menntio imply that it may nothe placed m the tank instead ofv outside il; The niolvclsniay loe supplied with water in any convenient way.

lllholu claim asinylinvenfion is: l. "loe 1n liking ,apymrtiis CTompriSingi in combination, is Wneitank having a topproviilecl with spaced holes, gsskets adjacent, said holes, and, molds eorespondingin num; bei' and. location to siiicl'h'oles and having ne their? bofonis inwzudly extending allonges resting on seid respective gaskets, sndfbotloins resizing on said flanges and vseemed with seul iienges to the top oi' thewalzen tank, bottoms havingpipes depending through seid holes 'to rplace the molds c l 's seitutinf with sind depending ,oonmninioe-ion with thewnter tnnl;

2. loe nmlnng appaialms ,comprising '1n ooi'nliinstion,.o Walzer tank, n plurality fof molds in communication therewilh7 freezing ineens for said molds, means for ogitatlng ihe Woher: ,in ,said molds, and sin auxiliary ngzior 1n o n'i'ini1111ioati`on` with sind fktzink to, canse the Waiter in seid molds to surge heck :onlie/ith elethe iiyst named agile@ ingr; ineens cesse/sto operate when they 'ice eske is :nearing 'completion `lee insk'ng 'apparatus ineens foi' seid molds,y ineens foxA` supplying egitaiing any to the interior-fof said molds,

n eut-off for seid'nii supply, and an agitator in ooinmnnicoeion wlthjsnld water tank to" in seul molds to' surge hack pense the wanen and forth.

4, loe making apparatus comprising' 'in'H oon'ibinstion? n Water mink, ey plurality olic molds in. oon'nnnnieetion therewith, freezing l ,ineens foi seid molds, means foi-Supplyingein u'iider pessoeto the interior of inf" dividunl molds, Yindividiiel.y aii out offs tov .eonfsrol the supply' of air to individual inolcls, snel :in sgin'tor in oomrniinicetion ,withsaielwaiei tank.

combination, n water tankfhsving a top; ak ph'nnlity of inolfls looete on seid top :ind in communication nl; their bottoms with said lenk, freezing means for yssifl molcls; means' "t foiysnpplying ngltnting ei'rtosoirlnlolds' so their bottoms, afuoo' for seldom/snp@ ply., and. e reciprocating plunger to; omisok the vater in Seial Amololsinsurge beekencl forth in Seial nioldseer' the ngiteting sir is sluit ofi. when sho ice onkel' isneering completion. f l 'f G. lee' :linking eppsatuseomnrising f ooinhinslioe., n Weijer tank; n mold hszying e.'

hoiom wheehy it? is inicolnnnn li wee-ee lenig ineensffoi"y hole in i' mennen 'nii' supply 'were dispensed i ,l l "l l'mennsfoi supplying eirunder pressuiell'to in describing and elsiniing the agitatores l inoomnnmicetion with the water tank, 'f

Ament to" the militer, vtherein.

"oomhinnlgion, a 'Water tank; a mold having Comprising; in# oonhineion, a wsertrenk, e plurality of molds in ,eomnnxnioejnonsheiewitn freezingV` los making apparatus comprising in` trapping air' hemintli Snicl niold bottoni, l

the interior" of seid xnolcLend an agitator associated with snidftzink to impart moYe-f the mold to surge beck oith.V y

`ll. Ice making apparatus Comprising in a'transverse `bottoni provided with a, hole (whereby Lit' ,is in `communication' with said wateitnkgmfl having a. pipe or shell 'sur'- ,rounding seid hole f. and extendingdown 'from said bottom into the anlgfwalls conpipe or shell `means trapping air beneath 'said moldy Afolli/ole `in its 'bottoni ywhereby itis in oo1n-l 4 y'with said Watertenk to cnusetlie'wster in bottom, and e. mechanical fagitstor incom- '-munioetion-y with said `Weller trank to yenlise the' 'Water in Athe mold to surge' beck and foth.

`9. lesy making epparatus comprisingfin f `foitrapping' air'lietiveen the bottoms of the means forssicl molds, means for supplying lair` under pressure' toltlie interiors ofsaid( .whereby air is Lspped between.theWater in the tank andirtheltop offthe tank$` mefns, forv supplying air onder 'pressure to'y said niolcls, and 'on agitator Communication with semi water tank to cmisethe. water mi seid molds to surge hack `and forth. o n '11..` o'e" making inppoiatus comprising in oomhination a water, liankzhsving a top, 's plurnlityof molds locatedr on 'said top' and having bottoms provided Withholes where by they are in communication with said tank and linvingpipes or shells extending below/I the'top of the tank khubo-said tank whereby air is trapped between the wateijinthe tank and thetop'- olthe' tank', ine'nnsor supply` 'ing soirimclery pressure `to sind molds, and a reciprocating plungerto cause the )Noter in Seidl moldsito surgebziek and forth. n

12; los makingyappnratus comprising Ain oomlcxingotion,` e,` Water -tanlqj molds located above the tank and in Communication therewimmieans whereby saficlmolds` are ,pro-y coinbina'tiony e Weten flank, a pluralityof y nnxoldsr in` communication therewith ymeans .'95 y molds and the Water inthetenk', freezingvided with a common air space between their bottoms and the water in the tank, and a mechanical agitator in communication Withsaid Water tank. I Y

13. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a Water tank, molds-located above the tank and in communication theref with, means whereby said molds are provided with a common air space between their bottoms and the Water 1n the tank, means /forsnpplying agitating air to the interiors inf/aile molds on sala support having a liquid-tight y connection therewith, said molds corresponding in number and location to the openings in said support and having `bottoms provided with holes and pipes or shells surrounding'said holesand extending below said support into the water tank thus providing a common space beneath the bottoms of the molds in which air is trapped, and a mechanical agitator incommuncation with said Water tank.

` In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD T. WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

JOHN L. FLETCHER, H. S. Immun. 

